How To Report Illegal Dog Breeding or Selling in Dallas
.webp)
We have been waiting for this Dallas, Texas!
If you live in the City of Dallas, you know we have a major dog and cat overpopulation problem. The end result of this is an animal shelter and dog rescue system flooded with an overpopulation of homeless dogs and cats, exhausted humans trying to help them all, and still... when that is not enough... we must euthanize healthy, adoptable animals simply because there is nowhere for them to go.
Illegal Breeding and Selling must be curbed.
Formerly, it was challenging to report illegal animal breeding in Dallas but, no more!
How To Report Illegal Animal Sales in Dallas
- Visit the 311 Reporting Website, Dallas 311 app, or call 311
- NEXT: Animal Care & Control
- NEXT: Animal Illegal Vending
- File Report
Provide as many details as you have:
- exact address
- specific time observed
- condition of animals
- license plate (if applicable)
- description of person(s)
- photo(s) may be uploaded to app or if you receive a follow up email/call submitted directly to the contacting person who is investigating
If you see it happening, repeatedly, repeatedly file a report. Encourage others to do the same.
Will Animal Control Officers or Police Come Right Away?
You see someone selling puppies from the back of a truck in a parking lot and, of course, time is of the essence for authorities to catch them in the act!
The answer for response time is entirely dependent on the amount of Active Service calls and their priority.
With Animal Services - priority is going to start with emergency / human danger move through injured / critical animals then roll down to less-urgent priorities, based on a defined scale.
So, there will probably not be immediate response (but it IS possible!). However, your reporting is helping to build a case against the perpetrator to aid in curbing their illegal act, as soon as possible.
Public reporting is essential to collect data on how pervasive this crime is and hot spots where it happens.
Personal Safety When Reporting Unauthorized Dog or Cat Breeding or Sales
A reporting person's information is not shared with alleged violator. However - if you use the app or website, a minimum of a phone number is required. Members of the public may put in and pay for a formal open records request (in which your phone number would be contained).
From 311 FAQs:
311 takes great strides to protect the identities of our customers. If an open records request is received by 311 under the Texas Public Information Act, trained staff will take all effort to withhold your information, including going to the Texas Attorney General for a ruling on your behalf citing Informer's Privilege.
If concern of retribution gives you pause in reporting this crime, please report via calling 311. After speaking to 311 via a phone call, the public cannot trace the information from the submitter on any website unless they are submitter.
Dallas Law: All Pets Over The Age of 6 Months Must Be Spayed/Neutered
Unless one holds an active breeding permit (or your pet meets other qualifications to avoid sterilization), please spay & neuter your pets to prevent unwanted litters. There are resources for free and low cost spay & neuter in Dallas. Dallas Pet Laws
- DAS pet owner support links
- TCAP free spay/neuter for certain zip codes
- SPAY NEUTER NETWORK low-cost, by appointment
- DAS + PARTNERS free community cat spay/neuter - watch events calendar
A Permitted Dog or Cat Breeder in the City of Dallas must abide by the below:
- UP TO DATE PERMIT hold a current dog or cat breeding license and comply with all city requirements for breeding
- PERMIT DISPLAY prominently display the breeding permit number on any advertisement by the permittee for the sale, adoption, or other transfer of any dog or cat, regardless of compensation
- SIGNED STATEMENT attesting to knowledge of the animal's health and immunization history
- PERMIT ON RECEIPT prominent display of breeding permit number on any sales receipt or transfer document
- PROVIDE PERMIT NUMBER to any person who purchases, adopts, or receives any dog or cat from the permittee
- VACCINE, MICROCHIP, STERILIZATION provide written information regarding these
If any / all of these are not being followed, please report this crime.
Please note this website is not affiliated with or run by Dallas Animal Services. See below for related Dallas City Code, at time of publication. We will make every effort to keep this information updated. Please contact us (email is in footer of this website) if you have information which will make this article more thorough or currently accurate.
See City Code Section 7-4.5 SALE OF DOGS AND CATS
How To Responsibly Choose a New Pet (Dallas Animal Services Website)
.webp)
With in-demand, bred dogs going for thousands of dollars it is no surprise people want in on the $ action.
But these are lives, not designer purses.
The result of breeding more animals than there are homes for means euthanasia for space.
Catching illegal breeders is one spoke of this wheel but the hub is demand for specific types of puppies.
We need to work on that, as well, to truly fix the problem.
Just like designer purses - if there is demand for the product, there will be black market production.
So... how do we learn, culturally, to value the essence, health, and balance of a dog over their looks or trendiness?
